Justifying mechanism for typewriters



7 Jan. 20, 1948. 0. 0. MARTIN 2,434,665

JUSTIFYING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Feb. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

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Jan. 20, 1948, o o, -rm 2,434,665

JUSTIFYING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Feb. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JUSTIFYING MECHANISM FOR TYBEWRITERS Oliver 0. Martin, Montrose, Calif. Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,170

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines and more particularly to a device for modifying the letterspace movement of the typewriter carriage for the purpose of producing a uniform right margin on pages typed thereon.

Various types of apparatus, commonly termed right margin justifiers, have been developed for this purpose and some commercially well known machines are equipped with such devices. Such margin justification is, in most of the machines which have come to my attention, accomplished by moving the escapement rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movement thereof, and the present device is designed to utilize the same principle of operation.

'It is the object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and conveniently operable justifying mechanism which may be'attached to various types of typewriters or which may be built into such typewriters to form permanent part thereof. To this end, the invention resides in the combinations and arrangements hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the device of my invention substantially as it appears when mounted on the carriage end of a typewriter;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device as viewed in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a substantially corresponding View of the device as viewed in the direction of the arrow 3;

Fig. 4 shows the complete device of Fig. 2 in its relation to the carriage end'frame of the type writer;

Fig. 5 is a front View ofthedevice of the invention as designed for mounting between the carriage end frames of a typewriter;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom view of the device of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view of a typewriter carriage indicating the position of the device of Figs. 5 to 7 relative thereto; and

Figs. 8 and'9 show details of construction the importance of which will be presently explained.

The structure of my invention, as illustrated in. Figs. 1 to 4-, comprises a base plate Lwhich is shown mounted on the carriage end plate A of a typewriterby means of suitable posts or brackets 2. On a fixed pivot 3 of this base is hung a circular disk 4, in which is cut a cam slot l On a stationary stud 5, at the outer end of the base I, is hung a rock-frame 6, and a link l is pivotally connected at 8 to oscillate this frame. This link is fitted at the other end with a stud 9 which, in turn, rides in the cam slot 4 'of the disk, all substantially as shown and described in my copending application, SenNo. 533,518, filed May 1, 1944'. A frame I0 is fitted to slide on the rock frame 6,

and a link H, extending from a pivot I-3 of this frame to the end of the escapement rack B of the typewriter carriage, is adapted to move said rack longitudinally on the carriage in response to oscillations of the rock frame. This single link takes the place of the more complicated connecting elements of my said copending application.

Because the position of the escapement rack varies in different makes of typewriters, it is necessary to provide adapting means which, in this case, takes the form of a bracket 28, fastened to the end of the rack. It is also well to provide a guide 2| for the stud 22 of the link II, thereby to relieve the rack of any twisting strain.

A pawl I5 is hung on the sliding frame ID in position to engage notches 6 of the rock frame, and it is made with an outwardly projecting finger piece I5 Means should be provided to urge this pawl into the notches of the rocket, and such means is, in Figs. 2 and 3, shown in the form of a spring [6. In the periphery of the disk is cut a groove 4", and a cord ll extends from this groove along the underside of the typewriter car riage to a suitable clip [8 at the right side edge of the top plate C. A spring [9, within the disk 4, maintains this cord tightly stretched, or, if preferred, the groove 4 may form part of a sep arate sheave combined with the disk in the manner and for the purpose disclosed in my said copending application.

Inoperation, the carriage is first manually or electrically moved to the right in order to return it to the beginning of the printing line and the mechanism of the present invention to the position of Fig. 2. When thereupon typing is commenced and the carriage begins its letter sp'ace movement in the opposite direction in response to key depressions, it is seen that the disk is rotated, against the tension of the spring I 9, to cause the stud 9 to move along in the cam slot 4 andgradually to swing the rock frame on its pivot 5, thereby to move the escapement rack relative to the carriage and so to modify the letter spacing. It is furthermore to be noted that this relative movement decreases as the frame In is moved toward the pivot 5 and that it entirely ceases when the pivot l3 becomes axially aligned therewith.

When the distance between the notches 6 is calculated to move the escapement rack on the carriage a distance equal to one letter space, it is seen that the position of the sliding frame on the rocker determines the extent of right margin justification. It is also important to note that the swinging movement of the rocker moves the escapement rack to lengthen the printing line while the sliding frame is on one side of the pivot 5, but operates to shorten the line when the frame [0 moves to the other side of the pivot. Once the degree of justification of each line of a typed page has been determined and marked down on dicated at 48 in Figs. 1 and 3, to facilitate adjustment of the slide.

The cam slot should be long enough for continued rotation of the disk 4 over the entire length of the printing line of the ordinary length of carriage. But as justification over eight or ten letter spaces is found sufficient in practice and can be satisfactorily effected in about six to seven inches of carriage travel, it may be well to make the beginning and the end of the slot circular. This arrangement is of advantage where the first line of each paragraph is to be indented. Should it, however, be required to justify a column narrower than the six or seven inches for which the disk is designed, and in case justification to the entire number of letter spaces is wanted it will, of course, be necessary to increase the rocker movement in proportion to decrease of the column width. This may conveniently be done by moving the pivot 8 toward the rocker pivot 5.

Illustrative of means for effecting such movement, a bracket [2 is shown rigidly mounted on the rocker and upwardly curved therefrom to such an extent that it will not interfere with the movement of the slide l0 thereon. This bracket is slotted to receive the stud 8, the lower end of which forms a pivot for the link I. A thumb nut l4 locks the stud 8 in adjusted position. A notch l is cut in the base plate large enough to clear this stud and to make room for it in its various positions of adjustment. The edge of this notch may conveniently carry graduations l to register with a pointer 1 of the link I.

When more than one column is to be printed on a page and the first column has been completed, the carriage is spaced to the next column to be typed, and it becomes necessary to unfasten the end of the cord ll from its anchorage on the top plate of the machine, so as to permit the cam disk by its spring H1 at the same time to be returned to its initial position. The cord is then again fastened and the device thereby correctly set for this second column. Means for facilitating this manipulation of the cord is disclosed in my said copending application. It is well here to mention that this resetting of the cam disk is facilitated by mounting the device on the left end the frame In of Fig. 2, is mounted to slide on the rocker 33, but because the present device is mounted behind the paper table D of the typewriter, it would be inconvenient to adjust the sliding frame on the rocker at the beginning of each 'line tobe justified in the manner above described.

It is for this reason preferable to substitute adjusting means which is separate from the rocker, and such means may take the form illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9. To this end, gear teeth 38*- are shown rising from one edge of the slide 38 to receive a pinion 39, which latter is secured to an axially slidable shaft 40, and the latter is, at the left carriage end frame E, fitted with a knurled knob il. To adjust the position of the slide on the rocker, the shaft 40 is pushed inward thereby to move the pinion 39 into the gear teeth of the slide, whereupon the shaft is rotated to move the latter into any required position on the rocker. This operation may be facilitated by placing indicating means, such as a drum 32, adjacent the knob and by placing graduations on this drum for registration with a pointer 43 of the carriage end frame when the shaft is pushed inward to frame of the carriage, but that otherwise it is immaterial at which end it is placed.

Because a device extending from the end of the carriage is exposed to accidental damage, it is preferable, wherever sufficient space is available,

to mount the device between the carriage end frames. Such arrangement will now be described, and reference is invited to Figs. 5 to 9 of the drawings, in which this modified arrangement is illustrated.

A suitable base, such as the plate 39, spans the space between the carriage end frames, to which it is suitably fastened. A cam disk 31 is mounted to rotate on a stud 32 of this base, and a rocker 33 swings on a pivot 34 which, in turn, depends from a bracket 35 of the base. A link 35 has a stud 31 riding in the cam slot 3H, and its other end is pivotally mounted on the rocker for adjustment thereon to lengthen the stroke thereof. These elements are in every way similar to the above described devices.

A sliding frame 38, which also is very similar to intermesh the pinion with the gear teeth. The shaft 4i] is shown journaled in a post 54 of the base and held retracted by a spring 45.

It is, however, quite important to render this operation foolproof, in order that the slide and pinion may always remain properly aligned, and this may be accomplished in the following manner. A detent 46 of the post H (see Fig. 6) rides in the teeth of the normally retracted pinion so as to lock it against accidental rotation, and a resilient arm M of the rocker (see Figs. 8 and 9) terminates in a tooth 41 riding in the gear teeth 38 in continued alignment with the detent 46. When the shaft 60 is pushed inward, it is seen that the projecting end 46 thereof contacts and commences to push the tooth 41 out of the gear teeth as the pinion enters therein; also that the pinion during the same movement Withdraws from the detent 45. The shaft is now freed for manual rotation to adjust the slide 38 on the rocker 33. When the desired position of adjustment is obtained, the shaft is released by the operator and the spring 45 moves it back into its initial position, again to lock the pinion against rotation and to free the tooth of the arm 41 for simultaneous seating in the teeth of the slide. The latter is now locked in position on the rocker and is free to oscillate therewith.

A link 50 extends from the slide 38 to move the escapement rack. Because, however, this device is placed intermediate the carriage end frames, it becomes necessary to interpose a lever 5| between the link and the end of the rack. This lever may be similar to the lever shown in my said copending application. .In all other respects, this mechanism may remain substantially the equivalent of the first above described device. The adjustment of the rocker throw may also be effected in like manner, the bracket 52 taking the place of the aforenamed bracket i2. As this adjustment generally is necessary only at the beginning of a new column, it should not be found inconvenient to operate.

The cam disk may be operatively connected with the machine frame by means of a cord 55, the free end of which is fastened to the top plate of the typewriter at either end thereof in the same manner that the cord I! is shown fastened and it functions in like manner. But for multi-- column work, it is more convenient to anchor the cord on a small spring drum for operation as described in said copending application. It should also be clear that the same mechanism may be employed in connection with the cord l1.

Where, however, sumcient space is afforded to install on the typewriter frame a rack in mesh with gear teeth of the cam disk, as shown and described in my copending application, such conmotion is preferable because of its sturdiness and convenient operation.

While the devices herein illustrated and de scribed are illustrative of preferred forms of the invention, modifications may be embodied within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, connections from the typewriter frame to rotate said cam during letter space movements of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage adjacent said member, a connection from said cam adapted to swing the said rocker on its pivot, a slide longitudinally adjustable on said rocker, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack.

2. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, a connection from the typewriter frame to rotate said cam during letter space movements of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage adjacent said member, a connection from said cam adapted to rock said rocker, a slide movable on the rocker, means for locking said slide in adjusted position thereon, and a connection from the slide to the escapement rack.

3. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a spiral cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a rocker pivotally mounted on the carriage adjacent said rotatable member, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot, a slide movable on the rocker to positions on both sides of the pivotal center thereof, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter in response to movements of the rocker.

l. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a spiral cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a rocker pivotally mounted on the carriage adjacent said member, a connection from said .cam adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot, a slide adjustable on said rocker, means normally maintaining said slide locked in position thereon and manually operable to release the slide for adjustment thereon, and a connection from the slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter longitudinally on the carriage in response to movements of the rocker.

5. The combination with a typewriter. having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a spiral cam thereon, a rocker pivotally mounted on the carriage adjacent said member, a connection from the typewriter frame to rotate said member and cam during letter space movements of the carriage, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot, a slide longitudinally adjustable on'the rocker, resilient means maintaining said slide in adjusted position on the rocker and manually operable to release the slide for adjustment thereon, and a connection from the slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter longitudinally in response to rocker movements.

6.'The combination with a typewriter having a'frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a rocker pivotally mounted on the carriage adjacent said rotatable member, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot, means pivotally fastening said connection to the said rocker, said means being operable to adjust the pivotal position thereof on the rocker thereby to vary the swinging movement of the rocker relative to the cam movement, a slide adjustable on said rocker, and a connection from said slide for moving said escapement rack longitudinally on the carriage in response to rocker movements.

'7. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a rocker piv otally mounted on the carriage adjacent said rotatable member and having a stud thereon, a connection fitted at one end to ride on said cam and perforated at the other end to ride on said stud, the latter being adjustably mounted to vary the swinging movement of the rocker relative to the cam movement, a slide longitudinally adjustable on the rocker, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack for moving the latterlongitudinally on the carriage in response to rocker movements.

8. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a stud on the carriage adjacent said rotatable member, a frame centrally hung to swing on said stud, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said frame on the said stud in response to cam movement, a slide movable on said frame to positions on both sides of the said stud, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter longitudinally in response to swinging movements of the frame.

9. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of a rotatable member on the carriage having a cam thereon, a member on the typewriter frame engaging said rotatable member to rotate the latter in response to carriage movements on the typewriter, a stud on the carriage adjacent said rotatable member, a frame centrally hung to swing on said stud, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said frame on the said stud in response to cam movement, a slide movable on said frame to positions on both sides of said stud, resilient means locking the slide in position on the frame, manually operable means for unlocking and adjusting the position of the slide on the frame, means for varying the frame movement relative to the cam movement, and a connection from the slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter longitudinally in response to frame movement,

10. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack thereon, of a rotatable member on the carriage, a connectionfrom the typewriter frame to rotate said member in response to carriage movements, a rocker pivotaily mounted on the carriage adjacent said member, a cam on the latter, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said rocker, means associated with said cam connection adjustable to vary the movement of the rocker relative to the cam movement, a slide longitudinaly movable on the rocker, means normally maintaining said slide locked in position thereon and manually operable to release the slide for adjustment thereon, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter on the carriage in response to rocker movement.

11. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack thereon, of a rotatable member on the carriage, a connection from the typewriter frame to rotate said member in response to carriage movements, a rocker pivotally mounted on the carriage adjacent said member, a cam on the member, a connection from said cam adapted to swing said rocker, means associated with said cam connection adjustable to vary the rocker movement relative to the cam movement, a slide longitudinally adjustable on the rocker, resilient means normally locking said slide in adjusted position thereon, rotatory means on the carriage normally locked against rotation and axially movable for rotational unlocking and to unlock said slide for adjustment of the slide in response to rotation of said means, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack for moving the latter in response to swinging movement of the rocker.

12. The combination with a typewriter having a, frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a rotatable member on the carriage having a movement transmitting eiement thereon, a connection from the typewrite frame to rotate said member and the element thereon during letter space movements of the carriage, resilient means urging return rotation of the member and element thereon during the return stroke of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage, means interconnecting said rocker with the said movement transmitting element, said means being adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot during rotation of said member, a slide adjustable on said rocker, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack.

13. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a rotatable member on the carriage having a movement transmitting element thereon, a connection from the typewriter frame to rotate said member and the element thereon during letter space movements of the carriage, spring means urging return rotation of the member and the element thereon during the return stroke of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage, means interconnecting said rocker with the said movement transmitting element, said means being adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot during rotation of said member, a slide adjustable on said rocker, means for locking said slide in adjusted position thereon, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack.

14. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage durin letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a rotatable member on the carriage having a movement transmitting element thereon, a connection from the typewriter frame to rotate said member and the element thereon during letter space movements of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage, means interconnecting said rocker with the said movement transmitting element, said means being adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot during rotation of said member, means pivotally fastening said interconnecting means to the rocker, said fastening means being operable to adjust the pivotal position thereof on the rocker thereby to vary the swinging movement of the rocker relative to the movement of said element, a slide adjustable on said rocker, and a connection from said slide to the escape ment rack.

15. The combination with a typewriter having a frame, a movable carriage and an escapement rack on said carriage, of means for moving said rack longitudinally on the carriage during letter space movements thereof, said means comprising, a. rotatable member on the carriage having a movement transmitting element thereon, aconnection from the typewriter frame to rotate said member and the element thereon during letter space movements of the carriage, a rocker on the carriage, means interconnecting said rocker with the said movement transmitting element, said means being adapted to swing said rocker on its pivot during rotation of said member, means pivotally fastening said interconnecting means to the rocker, said fastening means being operable to adjust the pivotal position thereof on the rocker thereby to vary the swinging movement of the rocker relative to the movement of said element, a slide adjustable on said rocker, means for locking said slide in adjusted position thereon, and a connection from said slide to the escapement rack.

OLIVER O. MARTIN.

REFERENQ'JES CllTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED ST PATENTS Number Name Date 1,693,797 OBryan et al. Dec. 4, 1928 2,296,881 Szego et a1 Sept. 29, 1942 2,307,339 Szego et al. Jan. 5, 1943 2,525,505 Goy July 27, 1943 

